Westfield earns top seed in Western Mass. Division III high school hockey tourney

Westfield and Longmeadow have a long tournament history. (Republican file photo.)

After going undefeated within the Berry Division, Westfield High School's hockey team (15-3-2) earned the top seed for the upcoming Western Massachusetts Division III tournament.

"It's something we're very proud of,'' senior co-captain Sean Spohr said. "We all believe in a team concept - if one of us isn't doing good, no one is doing good.''

Likewise, Agawam (15-3-2) was equally consistent during the regular season and the Brownies captured the top seed Saturday for the Division IIIA sectional tournament.

The Bombers and Brownies won't meet during the postseason because they play in different divisions. They did play during the regular season and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

For both teams, it all starts with defense and taking care of business in their own end. Both have been tough to play against.

The Division III tournament is a five-team affair. Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Ludlow and West Springfield are involved.

Ludlow earned the No. 4 seed based on its better record and because it met the traditional MIAA qualification standards of a .500-or-better record, although West Springfield finished fourth in the Berry Division, which was the original standard for seeding this tournament.

Ludlow and West Side will meet Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., with the winner taking on Westfield in the semifinals next Saturday.

During coach C.B. "Moose'' Matthews' tenure as head coach, the Bombers had never gone unbeaten during the regular season in the Berry Division. That changed this season when Westfield went 9-0 in division play.

No one in Westfield believes the tournament will be a sure thing.

"Anything can happen,'' Matthews said. "We've seen it before.''

Westfield has a 100-point career scorer in Spohr (27 goals, 16 assists this season). He is more than just about picking up points.

"Sean is a two-way player,'' Matthews said.

Spohr prides himself on his defenisve work.

"Just doing my job,'' he said.

His job is also to make the offense go and he's done exactly that. Mike Santinello has 22 goals and 13 assists.

Westfield, which is deep on defense, has perhaps the Berry's top defenseman in Ethan Nassar.

The key to any tournament success is goaltending and the Bombers have a good one in Nick Liberto. He had an offseason as a junior, but came back strong this season.

"Nick is back,'' Matthews said.

It was Liberto, who two years ago, helped Westfield advance to the state Division III final with a sensational performance against favored Hudson in the semifinals.

Agawam projected to be deep in goal. But last season's playoff standout, Cam Pinkham, left the program.

No problem. Anthony Ascioti has been outstanding. When Ascioti and Chris Walles were both injured late in the season, a forward with no prior goaltending experience, James Newsome, stepped in and allowed only one goal in each of Agawam's two wins he started.

Seamus Curran sparks a defense that likes to jump into the play.

Leading the Brownies into Thursday's quarterfinal against No. 8 Turners Falls is Corey Jenks, who came back from a wrist injury suffered last season and has 21 goals and 12 assists. Billy Wysocki has 15 goals and 10 assists.

"The past couple years, we were looking up toward the top," Agawam coach Rich Feeley said. "This year, we were fortunate enough to be the first seed. We had a pretty strong independent schedule, and that seemed to play dividends."

Don't count out South Hadley, a team Agawam lost to in the past three finals. The No. 2 Tigers, who open with No. 7 Greenfield on Tuesday, lost a lot to graduation, but have had a solid season.

Goaltender Devin Hoaglund has had a lot to do with that, as has defenseman Jeff Beauregard, who has 10 goals and 11 assists.

The Tigers are a tourney-tested team. Freshman Evan Sullivan has 14 goals and 19 assists and Robert Kass has 12 goals and 13 assists.

"We've seen firsthand how they've been able to be successful the past couple of years," Feeley said.

No. 3 Chicopee, which faces No. 6 St. Joseph's on Tuesday, will be led by defenseman Brendan Baker. Nico Facchini, Christian Salamon and Nick Jablonski are among the Pacers' offensive threats.

No. 5 Easthampton and No. 4 Wahconah Regional, who play each other Thursday, have both played well down the stretch.

With an even eight teams in the Division IIIA field, nobody receives a first-round bye.

All games in both tournaments will be played at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield. Championship games are set for March 7, with Division IIIA at 5:30 p.m. and Division III at 8:30.